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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-12-05 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES DECEMBER 5, 1994 CALL TO ORDER Chair Timothy Twomey called the regular School Committee meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present with the exception of George Shannon. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Dennis Richards, and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINtITES There were no minutes. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for bills were as follows: December 5, 1994 - Bills - $80,733.37 December 5, 1994 - Bills - $ 1,600.00 The warrant for payrolls were as follows: December 2, 1994 - Biweekly - $147,055.38 GIFTS Dr. Munnelly extended his appreciation to Reading parent Dennis LaCroix for his generous donation to the Killam Elementary School of a complete Apple I1 GS Computer System and accompanying software. CITIZENS' INPUT There was no citizens' input. Tile Superintendent recognized Rob Spadafora, a graduate and former peer leader at Reading Memorial High School, who was also a very active AIDS coordinator. Dr. Munnelly informed the School Committee that Barbara McLean, Eaton's Library/Media Specialist, will be featured in the State Farm Insurance Good Neighbor REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 DECEMBER 5, 1994 Award advertisement in national magazines that recognize some of the most innovative teachers in America. ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Matthew Cummings moved to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of discussion of the impact in Union Employees' Bargaining of the FY96 Salary Budget Compilation. The School Committee will return to regular session in approximately one half hour. Thomas Stohinan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Susan Cavicchi Matthew Cummings Roberta D'Antona Thomas Stohlman Timothy Twomey School Committee reconvened at 8:30 p.m. PERSONNEL Assistant Superintendent Richards reviewed the personnel report for November, 1994 that included the following: Pamela Ilodgson as a SPED Assistant at Eaton, Susan Kalmakis as a replacement Language Arts teacher at Parker; Sarah Nadolny as a RMHS replacement gymnastics coach, and the maternity and child rearing leave for Eaton's Grade 4 teacher Mary Johnston beginning on December 22, 1994 until the end of the school year. BUDGET Superintendent Munnelly introduced a booklet compiled by the school staff about educational needs. The booklet was created to help the Reading School Committee understand the backlog of needs created by years of underf ending of per pupil supplies and text accounts. Dr. Munnelly presented the proposed 1995 -96 Budget in the context of the long list of unfunded instructional needs. The Superintendent made adjustments to the Special Needs salary account. He stated the SPED Out of District nurse will be contracted differently for one student next year and the other SPED nurse will be paid hourly and for her transportation. Dr. Munnelly informed the School Committee that it is better to have the Town employ the SPED nurse as opposed to a service. Superintendent Munnelly stated he would get back to the School Committee with the public school transportation amount. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 DECEMBER 5, 1994 He continued with Athletic salaries and noted due to the length of the season athletic transportation is moving from 230 - 270 bus trips at $118 per trip. Thomas Stohlman moved to reduce the dues for coaches back to a previous level of $500. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Mr. Cummings requested a listing of the cost for the volley ball program. The Superintendent advised that he would provide a specific sheet outlining the custodian overtime. He added he would verify the summary for electricity and fuel on pages 74 and 75. Assistant Superintendent stated his version of Custodial Form D (page 19) for the Proposed FY96 Budget listing $394,144 for Building & Grounds, Maintenance is the correct figure. The Superintendent advised he would provide each school's base budget and summarized the Priority I listings given to him from each school. Mr. Cummings stated he would like the new programs being suggested by the Superinten- dent to be a recommendation by the School Councils and asked if there was any way the Gifted and Talented Program could be brought back. Dr. Munnelly responded by stating as much as he would like to add back the Gifted and Talented Program that Foreign Language would have to take precedence in the elementary and middle school curriculums and asked for people who have studied these issues to bring them forward. Thomas Stohlman moved to place $15,000 in the FY96 SPED budget in order to sub- sidize Understanding; Handicaps. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The consensus of opinion stated SPED was the proper place for this amount to appear. The vote was 4 in favor- and Matthew Cummings opposed. The Superintendent explained reasons for the request of a Central Office Finance Officer, the increase of $5.00 /day for substitutes and the reinstatement of Directors in Art, Physical Education and Music. He added there is great need for a Central Office Finance Officer even though we have merged with Town Hall and advised he would provide more back up for the responsibilities of this person. It was noted that none of these appear on the FY95 request. Mr. Cummings requested the $1,500 for Fair School Finance Council be removed. It was approved by consensus. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 DECEMBER 5. 1994 Dr. Munnelly stated changes would be made on the proposed FY96 budget and then we can go forward for the public hearing. If changes need to be made they can be done on the 14th. Mr. Richards advised he would make the necessary changes on his pages and they would be incorporated with the other FY96 summary pages for the public hearing. Matthew Cummings moved for preliminaU approval of the FY96 budget the amount of $18 224 038. Thomas Stohlman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS FUND BALANCES YEAR TO DATE Dr. Munnelly shared the status of appropriations as of November 28, 1994. ADJOURN At 11 25 p.m. Matthew Cummings moved to adjourn Roberta D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Susan Cavicchi Matthew Cummings Roberta D'Antona Thomas Stohlman Timothy Twomey RespecOdy Submitted Robot I Munnelly, Ed. D. Superintiendent Of Schools Secretary To The School Committee